Hard at Work

Beth Gorr

06/17/2002

A number of former Chicago Bears players and 750 construction workers
gathered for an informal barbecue at the Soldier Field reconstruction site on
Friday, June 14. Workers had the chance to get autographs and to chat with
the players while the players toured the construction zone.

"This is a great opportunity to show all of the workers here that their
efforts are appreciated," said Barnaby Dinges, Director of Communications for
the Lakefront Redevelopment Project. "The amount of work that has already
been done to the site is awe inspiring."

The renovation of historic Soldier Field and the surrounding areas has been
underway since January. At present, the interior of the former stadium has
been dismantled. The framework for the new structure is being erected within
the confines of the old facility.

"The end result will be a state of the art sports and entertainment stadium
with expanded parking lots and 17 acres of unique lakefront parkland. There
will be a children's playground, a sledding hill, and a hard surface sports
area. The colonnades will remain and will be open and accessible to the
public year round," Dinges said.

The $606 million project has a target date for completion in late September
of 2003. Between now and then, 13,000 tons of steel, 40,000 cubic yards of
concrete, 10 miles of railing, 300,miles of electrical cable will be used. The
new stadium will have 61,500 seats and 3,300 underground parking spaces.

Soldier Field will retain its name. The nation's veterans will be honored
by a dramatic new memorial to be located at the north end of the stadium, and
by a Doughboy statue to be placed at Gate O.

Although, the idea of playing home games away from Chicago presents the challenge the team should be able to overcome it.

"I don't think that losing the chance to have home games in Chicago this
coming season will be much of a factor," said former Bear Tom Waddle. The
players definitely want a new facility. They know that to get one, this
demolition and reconstruction has to happen first. In a way, a temporary
relocation of the home field will give the team a fresh start and a chance to
be very focused."

Like many other present and former players, Waddle felt that the time was
right for a new football facility.

"This project is long overdue," Waddle said. "This team has to stay
competitive. There is a definite psychological edge when you nave a nice
stadium. Who wants to be the only competitor in the NFL with a home field
that is not up to current NFL norms? This effort makes the players feel that
the organization cares and intends to dedicate itself to doing what it takes
to win,"

Former Bear Jim Morrissey enjoyed his bird's eye view of the reconstruction
process from underneath the colonnade area.

"This is great," he said. "It's so much more comprehensive than I had
imagined. When I first read about the project, I hadn't realized that he
entire north wall of the stadium was going to be removed Everything has been
stripped down to the bare bones and now the new structure is starting to take
shape. It's really exciting. These workers have done an incredible job."

Bears great Dan Hampton, who will be inducted into the NFL Pro Football Hall
of Fame in August, felt that the renovation of Soldier Field was a fitting tribute to George
Halas and his pivotal role in the early days of professional football.

"Frankly, it's embarrassing to play in a run down stadium," Hampton said. "It
just shows a lack of respect for the game and the players. The Bears are an
established team with a long history behind them. There wouldn't be an NFL
without George Halas. This is a new beginning. It honors Halas' memory and
also reminds us of all the great players who have been with the Bears over
the years. Hopefully this will be the start of a new football dynasty."